Name: 2-Minute Apple Mug Cake
Ingredients: All-Purpose Flour (4 Tablespoons): This is the structural foundation of our cake. All-purpose flour provides the perfect balance of protein and starch to create a tender, yet stable, crumb that holds its shape without becoming tough.; Granulated Sugar (2 Tablespoons): This is our primary sweetener. Beyond just adding sweetness, sugar helps to create a moist and tender texture by interacting with the flour and liquid. You can adjust the amount slightly depending on the sweetness of your apple.; Baking Powder (¼ Teaspoon): This is the essential leavening agent. Baking powder reacts with the liquid and heat to produce carbon dioxide bubbles, which cause the cake to rise and become light and fluffy. Don’t skip this, or you’ll end up with a dense, sad puck!; Ground Cinnamon (½ Teaspoon): The quintessential spice partner for apples. Cinnamon brings a warm, fragrant, and slightly spicy flavor that is the very essence of autumn and comfort food. A little goes a long way in transforming the flavor profile.; A Pinch of Nutmeg: While optional, a tiny pinch of nutmeg adds a layer of aromatic complexity and warmth that beautifully complements the cinnamon and apple.; A Pinch of Salt: Salt is a flavor enhancer. A small pinch doesn’t make the cake salty; instead, it sharpens and balances the sweetness of the sugar and the tartness of the apple, making all the other flavors pop.; Milk (3 Tablespoons): This provides the necessary moisture to hydrate the flour and activate the baking powder. It contributes to a soft, moist crumb. You can use dairy milk or any plant-based alternative like almond, soy, or oat milk.; Vegetable Oil (1 Tablespoon): This is the secret to a moist and tender mug cake. Oil coats the flour proteins, preventing them from developing too much gluten, which is what can make a microwave cake rubbery. It ensures a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Melted butter can also be used for a richer flavor.; Vanilla Extract (¼ Teaspoon): Vanilla adds a beautiful background note of flavor and aroma, enhancing the sweetness and rounding out the overall taste of the cake.; Apple (¼ cup, finely diced): The star of the show! A small amount of a crisp, flavorful apple, diced finely, is all you need. The small pieces will soften perfectly in the microwave, releasing their sweet-tart juice into the cake batter.

Ingredients

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. These are common pantry ingredients that come together to create something truly special. Here’s what you’ll need and the role each component plays:

All-Purpose Flour (4 Tablespoons): This is the structural foundation of our cake. All-purpose flour provides the perfect balance of protein and starch to create a tender, yet stable, crumb that holds its shape without becoming tough.
Granulated Sugar (2 Tablespoons): This is our primary sweetener. Beyond just adding sweetness, sugar helps to create a moist and tender texture by interacting with the flour and liquid. You can adjust the amount slightly depending on the sweetness of your apple.
Baking Powder (¼ Teaspoon): This is the essential leavening agent. Baking powder reacts with the liquid and heat to produce carbon dioxide bubbles, which cause the cake to rise and become light and fluffy. Don’t skip this, or you’ll end up with a dense, sad puck!
Ground Cinnamon (½ Teaspoon): The quintessential spice partner for apples. Cinnamon brings a warm, fragrant, and slightly spicy flavor that is the very essence of autumn and comfort food. A little goes a long way in transforming the flavor profile.
A Pinch of Nutmeg: While optional, a tiny pinch of nutmeg adds a layer of aromatic complexity and warmth that beautifully complements the cinnamon and apple.
A Pinch of Salt: Salt is a flavor enhancer. A small pinch doesn’t make the cake salty; instead, it sharpens and balances the sweetness of the sugar and the tartness of the apple, making all the other flavors pop.
Milk (3 Tablespoons): This provides the necessary moisture to hydrate the flour and activate the baking powder. It contributes to a soft, moist crumb. You can use dairy milk or any plant-based alternative like almond, soy, or oat milk.
Vegetable Oil (1 Tablespoon): This is the secret to a moist and tender mug cake. Oil coats the flour proteins, preventing them from developing too much gluten, which is what can make a microwave cake rubbery. It ensures a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Melted butter can also be used for a richer flavor.
Vanilla Extract (¼ Teaspoon): Vanilla adds a beautiful background note of flavor and aroma, enhancing the sweetness and rounding out the overall taste of the cake.
Apple (¼ cup, finely diced): The star of the show! A small amount of a crisp, flavorful apple, diced finely, is all you need. The small pieces will soften perfectly in the microwave, releasing their sweet-tart juice into the cake batter.

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Instructions

Follow these simple steps carefully for a flawless apple mug cake every single time. The key is to work quickly and not overthink it!

Choose Your Vessel: Select a standard-sized, microwave-safe mug (around 12-14 ounces). Using a mug that is too small will cause the batter to overflow and make a mess in your microwave. A wider, shorter mug often works better than a tall, narrow one as it allows the heat to distribute more evenly.
Combine the Dry Ingredients: In your chosen mug, add the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, nutmeg (if using), and salt. Take a fork or a small whisk and mix these dry ingredients together thoroughly. This step is crucial because it ensures the baking powder and spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour, which leads to a consistent rise and flavor in every bite.
Incorporate the Wet Ingredients: Pour the milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract directly into the mug on top of the dry ingredients. Use your fork to stir everything together until just combined. Scrape the bottom and sides of the mug to make sure there are no dry pockets of flour, but be careful not to overmix. A few small lumps are perfectly fine. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which is the number one cause of a tough, rubbery mug cake.
Fold in the Apples: Gently add your finely diced apple pieces to the batter. Use your fork to fold them in until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Microwave to Perfection: Place the mug in the center of your microwave. Cook on high power for 90 seconds to 2 minutes. The exact cooking time will vary significantly based on your microwave’s wattage. Start checking at the 90-second mark. The cake is done when the top looks dry and springs back when you gently touch it. If it’s still wet in the center, microwave it in 15-second intervals until it’s cooked through. Be careful not to overcook it, as this will also make it tough.
Rest and Enjoy: Carefully remove the mug from the microwave—it will be very hot! Let the cake rest for a minute or two. This allows the cake to finish cooking with the residual heat and helps the structure set. You can enjoy it straight from the mug or carefully run a knife around the edge and invert it onto a plate.

Nutrition

Serving Size: one normal portion
Calories: 400